ECONOMY FEARS Afriforum backs US sanctions bill

LOBBY group AfriForum says it has only campaigned for targeted sanctions against “corrupt” leaders of the ANC in the South African government, and that punishment against those high-ranking officials will not affect the economy.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

A bill which seeks to reevaluate the bilateral relationship between the US and South Africa, and identify government leaders who should be subject to sanctions, was passed by a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs this week.

The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 was introduced in April by Ronny Jackson, a congressman from Texas. The bill, to become a law, will need to be approved by the House and Senate before being signed by US President Donald Trump.

The controversial bill accuses South Africa of undermining the US's interests by maintaining close relationships with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, nations that are Pretoria's strong allies and key trading partners.

Ernst van Zyl, head of public relations at AfriForum, said the ANC's years of reckless and extremist diplomatic actions and rhetoric are now bearing bitter fruit.